Meant to be

Chapter 4: The push and pull of life....

Rita Shukla a woman of great resilience and yet a lady who possessed a very gentle and loving nature. She had lived a full life with her husband and was fully satisfied in her married life.
Losing her husband just when their struggles were to take a back seat was a huge blow to her but her kids especially her youngest son, the apple of her eye Sidharth swooped in and grew up in maturity and stature far beyond his age.

Over time she had learnt that patience and fortitude were two irreplaceable companions of life. Patience made it possible to pull back on the pace of her circumstances and take gentle
Measured steps and her fortitude made sure she never gave up and always displayed deep trust in God and her own ability and ethics to come through out of every situation.

A crisis was life's litmus test on a person's character, if that were true then her family and the values it was built on came away with flying colors. It was a tough chasm to navigate but her two daughters and her youngest son banded behind her and everyone together managed to rebuild their lives stronger and better than before. Her daughters were always matured and never really had to grow up as such because they were naturally predisposed to the upper middle class values but her son! The typical 'maa ka ladla' he was the youngest and he demanded every sought of attention and the women in his life were glad to give it to him as well. When Sidharth lost his father no one asked it of him but he had taken it him himself to be the stronghold of his family and for that he had to shut the door on a lot of his frivolity and carefree life. Modelling, television and the success and the game that followed all happened very organically because of his good looks, his work ethics and his drive.

Somewhere along the way his public persona and his private persona started evolving into two distinct entities. There were two Sidharths at play, one who would play upto the vanity and all the demands of a 'celebrity' that was expected and it was often at clash with the Sidharth who was complete home boy and would hold no ego or attitude when it came to his family.

Rita shukla often worried about this because her son would achieve anything he put his mind to and somehow this metamorphosis of his worked well at his career but she did not want that for her son.

Just as Preeti and she were getting ready to go for the shooting of the first entry episode of Bigg Boss she turned to her daughter and said " I hope uss ladkey ko Pathaa hai ki voh kya kar raha hain. Ghar pey toh uska avataar jo hota hai na sirf hamaare liye hota hai. Ghar ke andar naadan aur baahar shaithan! Sab kuch ulta hota hai uska! Everyone tries to put their best foot forward when outside and throw their tantrums at home lekin iska kya bharosa!"

"Mummy don't worry he knows what he has gotten himself into, let's see what he does. I am excited and I trust that he will never let you or us down. Haan most likely Rashmi Desai will also be there. Dekhtey hain voh kaisa handle karta hai sab situations and his own emotions. I know he will never let the truth come out on national television because it would then involve putting that girl and the truth about her completely out there which he will never do. Hope life inside the house does not frustrate him that voh bol bhi nahi sakta lekin sehnaa bhi paday!" Said Preeti fixing her mum's hair.

"Jab usnay hammay hi nahi bataaya toh phir chance hi nahi hai ki voh iss show mein saarey pol khokega. All I know is that girl really hurt Sidharth and he is now unable to trust any girl bas aise flings and fooling around kartey raho and not invest emotionally, how long will he go
On like this." The mother quipped she very well knew her son had fallen into the illusion of security because he thought by satisfying the peripheral needs of sex and companionship he was fine in life, but the mother in her knew how much he deeply desired a safe haven where he could unleash his emotions, happiness, vulnerability and finally exhale and enjoy life without being on guard. She desperately hoped her son would find a girl who would in love handle his best and worst and give back as generously as he could love. Both mother and daughter went on putting on a brave face for the little boy who they loved and cherished and for the accomplished yet vulnerable man that he was.

Many many miles away a young boy watched his brave big sister pack her bags and embark on a make or break journey of her life. He watched his motto shenaaz smile for his sake. There were times he wished they could rewrite their story. There were times he wished he could allow her to be herself without the baggage that life had placed on her. In this world only he knew the pain behind Shehnaaz Gill's laughter and energy. "Motto jab tak izzat sey tu apna talent aur personality ko display kar sakti hai kar Liyo. Yeh pyaar pyoor ke chakkar pe nahi padna. Himanshi Khurrana ke har jhoot ko duniya ko dikhaana hai lekin kuch bhi tumharey khushi aur well-being se zyaada important nahi hai samjhi na?" Shebaaz said this for the maybe 150th time.

Shehnaaz was irritated but knew it was his love for her speaking "acha mere guruji jaisay tunay hajaar daffa pehle bhi sunaaya hai vaisay hee karungi. No pyaar no pyoor sirf Shehnaaz Kaur Gill aur uski sachayee. Theek hai? Promise!"

"Aur agar Gautam aagaya toh bol dena Ki humnay ussay kitna support kiya. Motto enjoy kar aur bas jee jaan sey khel jo tu hain na bas Vohi dikha" staying this shebaaz hugged his sister a tight goodbye and wishing and praying for the best. Their uncle and aunt, to some extent their parents and the Punjabi music and film industry all had shortchanged Shehnaaz. They either did not fully understand her and hence hurt her by their under estimation of her or they rightly estimated her and deliberately did all they could to kill her aura and charm.

On their way back from the shoot, both sidharth's mum and sister were quiet some bits sad because now no contact with their boy for a few months and also part fear and part hope.

"Mummy Sid ka stage presence is amazing na. Chotu hai hamaara lekin on stage his conduct his aura was so so brilliant. " Preeti broke the silence in the car. "Saari ladkiyan chose him only except that kid from Punjab, actually even her stage presence was so good, Sid ka tho itna trained aur professional yet ek fun real laga a lekin uska charm hee alag tha. Salman Khan's eyes were literally twinkling interacting with her na?" She probed her mum.

"Haan he was looking handsome and confident. Aur jab rashmi aayi stage pey he handled himself well. Aisa hee chalay toh acha hai. And as cliched as it sounds small town upbringing has its charm. That punjaabi girl was very sweet and refreshing, I just hope Sidharth chooses his friends and companions wisely. National television pey tho romance nahi karega khadoos jo tehra phir bhi hope he conducts himself well with all the female attention, vaisay koi nayi baath nahi hain. I don't know too many thoughts going on" his mother sighed and chuckled.
"I was talking to him the other day mummy and I teased him that koi achi ladki milay tho bhabhi ko ghar le aana. Bolta hai ki chance hi nahi hain. I feel he has locked that side of his because usko humaara joh duniya hai uska balance ek dum bhi risk mein nahi daalna chahtha hai. Iss chakkar mein he is also losing the opportunity to make it more beautiful. Dekhenge mummy what happens let's pray and watch and support him" saying this she a rapper her fingers around her mother's

"Motto? Acha stage pe agli tu jaa rahi hai. Waheguru rehab Karen. Chal jaa dihaadey apni mardaani. Sherni jhalli jaakay apne bhai ka naam Roshan kar!" Saying this shebaaz wished his sister off into this very important journey of hers.

I want from time to time show the gradual reflections and reactions of the key family members as well. For whoever has added this story to your reading list, thankful to share this craze with you. Tc and be good.